Can a non runner go from 5k to a full marathon in a year? This blog was set up to track if I could go from a non runner to finishing a marathon within a year - well if you read the blog, that's now done, but what other charity driven insanities are on my path ahead? Can't stop at a single 42km (26 mile) challenge now can we?

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

100km walk looms large - how are we preparing?

It’s been two and a half weeks since I updated this blog on
my progress towards the 100kms walk that takes place in 8 days time, so I
suppose it’s time for an update.

Put simply a number of injuries have kicked in. First off,
after our 57km walk overnight on 22 March I was sore all over for a number of
days, this wasn’t getting better over time and seeing I had to be at the
doctors four days later I got her to check me out. I had a virus so it wasn’t
just the pain of such a long walk, I was actually crook!! I took a few days off
the running and returned with a 30 min five kilometre effort at parkrun, I was
very happy with that time (as it had taken me a while to get to 6 mins per km)
but all afternoon was having quite strong pain in the outer left knee and lower
back. A chiro visit determined my pelvis was out and I was under strict
instructions not to run the Geelong Half Marathon on 7 April if I was going to
be any chance of being in shape to walk 100kms on 19 April.

The knee and lower back seemed to have settled, but stupidly
(always good in hindsight) I decided that a geocache trip with my 8 year old
son would be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. So instead of running a
half marathon we walked about 3 or so kilometres to a local park where a cache
was hidden up a tree. The booty was too high for the little one so I took it on
to scale the bottom 5 or so branches. Two branches up, I slipped (should have
had my grippy trail shoes on) grabbed the branch above to steady myself, fell
anyways and have damaged my ribs on the left side. I can tell you coughing is
not an option at present.

So I have just over a week to go until I hit the trails with
three team mates and the daunting 100kms up and down mountains awaits, whilst I
have a potential dodgy knee, lower back and ribs. Looks like the anti-inflams
are going to take a pounding!!!!

Our team fundraising for the trailwalker event has been
monumental, with our latest event being held at “Milk The Cow” in St Kilda, a
wine and cheese tasting extravaganza which raised $640 for Oxfam. Our total
team funds is now over $5,000 and obviously I would like to thanks all those
who have donated either their cash or their time and skills in arranging,
hosting, assisting with all the events and fundraising activities. There are no
more specific events scheduled but the fundraising via email, selling chocolate
etc. will continue.

A quiet(ish) week awaits where I’ll put in a few 5km-10km
runs, maybe throw in a long walk of 15-20kms and carb up as 23 hours or so of
straight walking without a break will use plenty of energy. This week’s plans
will centre more around the logistics of the event, how are we going to get to
the start with minimal walking, what food do we need to pack, what is in
backpack what is in the support vehicle (which can only meet you every 15kms or
so), how many litres of electrolyte and carb drinks do I need, what spare
clothing (there will be plenty of socks I can tell you) and all that sort of
stuff. Four of us doing the same
planning concurrently is going to result in an interesting outcome – I’m sure
there will be lots of heated debate, and I’m hopeful we don’t all have 20
bananas each, as the weight in the backpacks would be ridiculous.

I’ll check back in with details of our final preparation,
just before we head off, and will obviously report back soon after the finish
to let you know how the whole team (and support crew) fared. I’m sure there
will be heaps of amusing stories and (not so happy) snaps.